Physics/maximum voltage

Questionthank you, so in a hypothetical situation where the column of the van da graaff is too long & clean for a discharge. why does the curvature of the terminal determine the maximum voltage in dry clean normal air. is it because of the leakage of current into the air? if so than how could one calculate this leakage of current? would it not simply be approximately equal to the amps incoming on the belt? as the equilibrium between input(belt) and output(leakage) is reached and the terminal reaches the maximum steady voltage but the Faraday ice pail effect will force more extra charge onto the outside of the terminal no mater how full it is resulting in leakage of current into the air.
thank you,
gene

AnswerIf you have a ridiculously long and high-resistance column, like 100 meters, so that everything else is essentially at infinity relative to the radius of the sphere, that radius determines the electric field at the surface. The field of a sphere of uniform charge is given by kQ/r^2, where k is a constant, Q is the charge, and r is the radius. The voltage is given by kQ/r (ignore the sign for not, not important). How much charge is carried away in the air depends on detailed properties of the air, like pressure/dust/humidity/CO2 levels, etc. You can't calculate it with any reliability, no. If you reach an equilibrium state where all the discharge is through the air, then that discharge will equal the net current up the belt (though the return of the belt will probably attract some of the discharge ions/electrons, depending on what kind of belt you use and whether your terminal is positive or negative). That's a rather extreme circumstance. In my experience, leakage down the column is almost always a factor (the column will attract conductive dust as the generator runs), and if there's no breakdown discharge then either the column is dirty or the air is humid. But in cases where the air is humid, the belt charge also roughly equals the discharge through the humid air.

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I can answer most basic physics questions, physics questions about science fiction and everyday observations of physics, etc. I'm also usually good for science fair advice (I'm the regional science fair director). I do not answer homework problems. I will occasionally point out where a homework solution went wrong, though. I'm usually good at explaining odd observations that seem counterintuitive, energy science, nuclear physics, nuclear astrophysics, and alternative theories of physics are my specialties.

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I was a physics professor at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, research in nuclear technology and nuclear astrophysics. My travelling science show saw over 20,000 students of all ages. I taught physics, nuclear chemistry, radiation safety, vacuum technology, and answer tons of questions as I tour schools encouraging students to consider careers in science. I moved on to a non-academic job with more research just recently.

Education/CredentialsPh. D. from Duke University in physics, research in nuclear astrophysics reactions, gamma-ray astronomy technology, and advanced nuclear reactors.